Swing trainer

ABSTRACT

A swing trainer composed of a handle, pulley, and cord connected to the handle and passing through the pulley permits a user to freely move the handle in any direction as well as rotate about its longitudinal axis so that he or she can engage in movement specific resistance training in a muscle memory fashion. The swing trainer preferably includes all or portion of a golf club (e.g., golf grip), tennis racket, baseball bat, hockey stick, or other piece of sporting equipment which the user will be training on. Because the handle is connected to the cord, the user can turn, rotate, and swing the handle in the same manner as he or she will when engaged in a sport, and the cord will slide on the pulley during this motion. Resistance, in the form of weights or the like, can be applied during the swing without obstructing the natural motion of the swing because the shifting, turning or rotating movement will translate into sliding of the cord through the pulley and force being applied from the pulley to the resistance (e.g., weights). Furthermore, a ball shaped device may be substituted for the handle for resistance training of the specific movements required for throwing a football or baseball, or for rolling a bowing ball or sliding a curling stone.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention generally relates to handle attachments foruse with a weight stack or resistance machine which allow the user totrain muscle groups in the same manner that they will be used whenperforming a swinging motion with a piece of sporting equipment.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Resistance training machines typically include a stack of weightsthat are moved., against the force of gravity, by a user in a repetitivefashion using a handlebar or handle assembly. A number of resistancetraining machines include cables and pulley assemblies, and the userholds and manipulates a handle connected to the cable in order to liftone or more weights in a stack. Bowflex® is a resistance trainingmachine which provides resistance in a progressively increasing fashionby the user causing plastic and/or metal rods to bend tinder a puttingor pushing force applied through a pulley and cable arrangement. Withthese resistance machines, a myriad of different exercises can beperformed. One of the drawbacks of previous resistance machines is thatthey generally confine the user's movements to specific planes or arcs,which is not how person would normally use his or her muscles whenplaying, a sport. Freeiiotion® has addressed this issue with a line ofequipment which permits a user to move in any direction when pulling ona handle using his or hands or feet.

[0005] To date, no devices have been made which effectively takeadvantage of the resistance machines ability to provide variable and/orincreasing resistance, and allow for movement specific resistancetraining. It would ideal, for example, for a user to selectively trainthe muscles used in a golf swing or those used for swinging a baseballbat, but to not introduce resistance which would train muscles not usedin those swings, as these may create unnecessary work for the user or,worse, introduce movements that are ultimately detrimental to the swing.Even though most cable crossover machines that have adjustable pulleyson swivels allow a user to change the plane of movement, attachment ofsports specific attachments (e.g., baseball bats, golf clubs, etc.) tothese machines or to rubber tubing has not been successful because itchanges the sequential firing of the muscle groups or over loads themuscle groups called upon to perform the exact desirable (muscle memory)technique.

[0006] Swing training devices, for stick type sporting equipment (e.g.,golf clubs, baseball bats, etc.) which are connected to elastomericmaterials, where resistance is applied in increasing quantities, tend tointroduce resistance not found in the ordinary swing. In particular,they do not allow for free rotation about the longitudinal axis of thehandle, thereby causing additional muscle effort when turning thehandle. Similar problems are found in devices where a single connectionof cabling from a weight stack or resistance device to the handle isused. In these devices, right and left shifting of the handle, as wouldoccur in a golf swing take away and follow through for example, wouldnot result in even application of the applied resistance across thelength of the handle, thus requiring the user to compensate for changesin resistance which occur when a user is swinging the device.

[0007] When the top of a bat or golf club is attached to a cablecrossover resistance device, or even when such sports specific equipmentis attached at one point, and the other end is attached to a securepoint, the user's sequential muscle activity will not be the same as itis when performing the movement with the normal piece of equipment.Also, the user will be using additional or extra muscle contractionsbecause of the single attachment method. For example, if the golf clubis attached at the top, once the resistance starts and the user moversfrom one position to the next, as for example when starting a swing, thewrist and forearm muscles are being over worked and the user's techniqueis being forced to change because of it. Moreover, other muscles mayalso be being over worked while others are being left out.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is an object of this invention to provide a handle assemblywhich allows for movement specific resistance training in a musclememory fashion.

[0009] It is another object of this invention to provide a handleassembly in the form of a sport specific ball, such as a football orbowling ball, for example, that is used for movement specific resistancetraining in a muscle memory fashion.

[0010] According to the invention, the swing trainer includes a handlewhich preferably is part of a piece of sporting equipment such as a golfclub, baseball or softball bat, tennis racket, hockey stick, etc. Forexample, the handle may include a golf grip, or the handle might be acomplete baseball or softball bat. The handle will have a cord, such asrope, cable, rubber or plastic cording, connected at two spaced apartlocations. In order to precisely mimic the motions required in a varietyof sports, the points of connection will permit the handle to be rotatedabout its longitudinal axis. For example, a cable may be fitted to awasher assembly that is located within the handle, where the washerholds the cable to the handle, but the handle and washer are permittedto rotate freely relative to one another. Universal joints or otherconnectors may also be used in the practice of the invention. In abaseball bat, hockey stick or tennis racket configuration, one of theends of the cord will preferably be secured in the middle of the bat,stick or racket while the other will preferably be secured at an end ofthe bat, stick or racket. In this configuration, a member whichencircles the bat, stick or racket will be used to connect the end ofthe cord to the middle of the bat, stick or racket, and the bat, stickor racket, will be free to rotate about its longitudinal axis within theinternal circumference of the member.

[0011] The invention also contemplates a ball device being connected toa resistance based machine, where the ball is freely rotatable about anaxis and is shiftable and moveable in any plane. For example, a footballmember or bowling ball would connected to a cable of a resistance basedmachine via a swivel or universal joint spaced away frog the football orbowling ball. In this way, the football or bowling ball could be movedfreely in the same manner that one uses these devices when playingsports. Furthermore, it may be advantageous to have two connectionpoints similar to the swing trailer handle with a cable running througha pulley, as this would also permit unobstructed rotation and movementof the ball.

[0012] The design of this invention will allow for movement specificmotions such as the golf swing, baseball swing, tennis stroke, throwinga football which start at different positions and heights, and requiretake-off; rotation/torque, wrist cock, wrist snap and wrist rollover atthe proper time so that the user can start and finish at the properpoint (e.g., follow through). The invention reinforces the sequentialtiming of the muscle, and dictates use of only the muscles that arecalled upon in the sports specific movement in the same manner as thoughthe user was actually performing with normal sporting equipment. Theinvention allows resistance training in muscle memory fashion and theresistance can be increased without changing the user's technique. Thecombination of pulleys, swivels, and rotary elements permit the handleor ball attachment to spin on any axis, go end-over-end, or left andright, simultaneously if necessary, with next to zero friction orbinding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The foregoing and other objects, aspects and advantages will bebetter understood from the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings,in which:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a swing training device havingparticular application to the golf swing according to the invention;

[0015]FIG. 1A is a schematic of one example of a connector which may beused in the practice of this invention;

[0016]FIG. 2A-C are sequential views illustrating movements betweendifferent positions of a golf swing as an examplary use of the handleattachment of this invention;

[0017]FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a baseball bat handle attachmentaccording to this invention;

[0018]FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic views of an alternative baseball orsoftball bat attachment according to this invention;

[0019]FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a tennis racket attachment accordingto this invention; and

[0020]FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a football attachment according tothis invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a golf club handle 10having a cord 12 connected at either end. The cord 12 passes through apulley 14 which is connectable to a weight stack or other resistancebased machine (e.g., the BowFlex® machine). The material used for thecord 12 can vary widely and may include rope, plastic or rubberizedmaterial, wire or metal cabling, etc. The chief requirement is that thecord 12 slides within the pulley 14 as the user shifts his or her handswhen the handle 10 is moved in the manner that a golf club would moveduring a swing (this being indicated by double headed arrow 15), andthat the cord 12 be tong enough to allow the handle 10 to shift left andright, and up and down as Would be done when performing a golf swing.Ideally, a protective sheath 16 of plastic, cloth, tape, or othersuitable material would be positioned on the cord 12, at least at thelocations closer to the ends of the handle 10 so as to provide the userwith some protection from irritation by the cord 12 should it touch theuser's skin (this may occur if the user is resistance training the golffollow through). The pulley 14 will have a connector 16 that connects tothe cabling system of a weight stack or resistance based machine.Typically, the connector 16 will be a simple eye hole which is connectedby a metal clip. However, in some instances the connector might best beof the swivel variety which will allow the pulley 14 to rotate withrespect to an axis through the connector 16, as is indicated by thedouble headed arrow 8. This permits end-over-end movement. Another keyfeature of the invention is that the points of connection of the cord 12to the handle 10 permit the handle 10 to rotate about its longitudinalaxis as indicated by double headed arrow 20. FIG. 1A shows one exampleof one type of connection which can accomplish this wherein a washer 22type connector is positioned within the handle 10 and is permitted torotate radially therein. The cord 12 would be anchored to the handle 10by the washer 12, type connector, but the handle 10 would be able torotate relative to the cord 12 without binding. Some more advanced jumpropes have suitable types of connectors which may be used in thepractice of this invention. The types of connectors which might be usedare wide ranging.

[0022] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the important features of theinvention are that the cord 12 translates back and forth through thepulley 14, and the handle 10 rotates freely about its longitudinal axis.Thus, for example and with reference to FIG. 2A-C, when a user istraining muscles for the golf swing, the pulley 14 would be connected toa weight stack or resistance device 24. In the take away position ofFIG. 2A, the user's hands would be rotated relative to the contactposition shown in FIG. 2B and the follow through position shown in FIG.2C. Free rotation about the longitudinal axis of the handle 10 permitsthis change in orientation of the user's hands without contributingundue resistance. In the take away position of FIG. 2A, the user's handsare permitted to turn and cock. By contrast, in the contact position ofFIG. 2B the user's hands must release. Furthermore, when training thefollow through as shown in FIG. 2C, the user's hands must turn over andtwist. Each of these motions must be accomplished without adding undueresistance to the user's wrists or hands. Having the cord 12 translatethrough the pulley 14 as shown by double headed arrow 15 in FIG. 1,permits this rotation, turning, shifting, and cocking to occur in thesame manner as would occur in a golf swing. The translation 15 occursbecause the handle 10 is anchored at its top and bottom points asdiscussed above. Thus, when the hands are shifted right or left, thecord 12 translates through the pulley to allow the top or bottom of thehandle to be relatively closer to the pulley 14. Then, when the reversemotion occurs, the cord 12 returns to its point of origin. Repetitivemotions like this under the influence of a weight stack or otherresistance machine provides movement specific resistance training in amuscle memory fashion. In most applications, the user would positionhimself or herself so as to apply resistance when moving the hands fromthe position in FIG. 2A to the position in FIG. 2B, or vice versa, orwhen moving the hands from the position in FIG. 23B to the position inFIG. 2C, or vice versa. However, one could use resistance training forthe entire golf swing by having the resistance applied at a point asshown in FIG. 2A and then having the user move his or hands through theposition shown in FIG. 2B to the position shown in FIG. 2C.

[0023] The invention can be applied to a wide variety of different stickbased sports devices. For example, FIG. 3 illustrates the base end of abaseball or softball bat 26 which would be configured almost identicalto the golf grip handle 10 of FIG. 1. The invention might also be usedwith tennis rackets (as shown in FIG. 5), hockey sticks, etc.

[0024]FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate an alternative embodiment which maybe employed with a baseball or softball bat 28. In this instance, thecord 12 is connected to the top of the bat 28 and to a ring shapedmember 30 which encircles the bat 28. As discussed previously, the cord12 passes through a pulley 14. As illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, thering shaped member 30 may be positioned at a different relative distancefrom the top of the bat 28 depending on the type of swing (e.g.,baseball swings are typically different from softball swings), as wellon the size and swing preference of the user. The ring shaped member 30would permit the bat 28 to rotate within the inner circumference, thuspermitting the bat 28 to rotate about its longitudinal axis. The ring 30could be held in place on the bat 28 by controlling the ring size, or byusing guides (not shown) positioned on the bat 28 which preventstransverse movement along the length of the bat 28. The cord 12 wouldtranslate through the pulley 14 in the same manner as discussed above.

[0025]FIG. 6 shows an embodiment with a tennis racket 32 where a ringmember 30 encircles the handle 34 and the cord 12 connects to the top ofthe racket 32 and to the ring member 30. Depending on the needs of thestroke (e.g., ground stroke, overhand, volley, etc.), the ring member 30may connect at different locations on a shaft 36.

[0026]FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the invention where the handle isill the shape of a football 38. Similar configurations maybe made with abowling ball, softball, baseball, or other ball tape device. These wouldprovide for rotation about the axis of the football 38, as well aspermit free movement, shifting and turning of the football 38 (as wouldbe the case when one cocks there hand to throw the ball). For example,the nose may be pointed downward in the cocked position, but would befreely moveable to point upward in a release position. Furthermore,during this movement, the ball would be able to rotate about itslongitudinal axis as would be the case during a normal throwing motion.Whiel FIG. 7 shows a cord connected at two points, as discussed above,the cord 12 in this instance may only be connected at one point 40 tothe end of the ball, provided the point of connection is spaced farenough away (e.g., preferably 3-6 inches) from the end of the ball topermit its translation up, down, left, and right or in any otherdirection. This could be accomplished using a swivel or universal typeconnector at point 40.

[0027] While the invention has been described in terms of its preferredembodiments, those of skill in the art will recognize that the inventioncan be practiced with considerable variation within the spirit and scopeof the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A handle assembly for use with a weight stack or resistancemachine, comprising: a handle; a pulley connectable to a weight stack orresistance machine; and a cord which passes through said pulley and isconnected to said handle at two points separated along a length of saidhandle, said handle being freely rotatable about a longitudinal axispassing through the handle and being freely shiftable, movable orturnable with said cord passing through said pulley during shifting,moving or turning.
 2. The handle assembly as recited in claim 1 whereinsaid cord is made of rope.
 3. The handle assembly as recited in claim 1wherein said cord is made of rubber material.
 4. The handle assembly asrecited in claim 1 wherein said cord is or includes a metal cable. 5.The handle assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising aprotective sheath positioned over said cord at one or more locations. 6.The handle assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a swivelconnector associated with said pulley.
 7. The handle assembly as recitedin claim 1 wherein said handle includes a golf club grip.
 8. The handleassembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said handle includes at least aportion of a softball or baseball bat.
 9. The handle assembly as recitedin claim 1 wherein said handle includes at least a portion of a hockeystick.
 10. The handle assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said handleincludes It least a portion of a tennis racket.
 11. The handle assemblyas recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said two points where saidcord and said handle are connected includes a member which encirclessaid handle and permits rotation of said handle within said member. 12.The handle assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of saidtwo points where said cord and said handle are connected includes washerassembly which fits within said handle and permits rotation of saidhandle relative to said washer assembly.
 13. The handle assembly asrecited in claim 1 wherein the handle is in the form of a ball.
 14. Thehandle assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein said ball is a football.15. The handle assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein said ball is abowling ball.
 16. A ball device for use with a weight stack orresistance machine, comprising: a ball member; and a connector connectedto and spaced away from the ball member for connecting the ball memberto a weight stack or resistance machine, said connector permittingrotation of said ball member about an axis through said ball memberwhich extends to said connector, and said ball member being freelyshiftable, movable or turnable with respect to said connector duringshifting, moving or turning.
 17. The ball device of claim 16 whereinsaid ball member is a football.
 18. The ball device of claim 16 whereinsaid ball member is a bowling ball.